"Don't try to calm the storm. Calm down. The storm will go away." ~ Buddha
As we all know, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread worldwide. It's a serious threat, less because of the raw numbers (as of March 22, 2020, fewer than 340,000 infected cases with a global population of over 7 billion people are known), but more because the trajectory is dangerous, the spread is exponential, and that Growth happens very quickly.
The virus it contained would not have been that big of a deal. Spreading the virus is a big deal. It is now clear that the virus is spreading rapidly.
The main problem is that the hospitals in the affected areas are unable to treat the large increase in coronavirus cases.
We have already seen this in Italy: people die because there are not enough ventilators and other medical resources to keep them alive.
Yogically, we are trained to make decisions from a place called the "neutral mind". There are three yogic mental centers: positive mind, negative mind and neutral mind. Ideally, we activate and use all three minds, but the best decisions come from a place of neutrality. This neutrality helps to maintain balance.
Below is an overview of these three states of mind and how they can influence your decisions regarding the coronavirus.
The negative (or protective) mind is given to survive. It is reactive, protective and looks for potential dangers. It is sensitive to pain and tries to protect you from the forces that can disturb or destroy.
The negative mind could say:
– I will buy toilet paper, mineral water, face masks, surgical gloves and rations for the next six months. I'm hiding all these rations and developing a plan to ward off my neighbors. If I hear that face masks and surgical gloves are missing in hospitals, I will ignore that. I have to keep these things for the future. Things are likely to get ugly – I have to take care of myself first and worry about my church later.
– The virus is increasing in my area, so I'll go and leave town to stay outside for a while. And if the new location gets too many cases of the virus, I'll leave it there too. My plan will always be to stay one step ahead of the virus and go when I notice that the number of confirmed cases is high.
– I will check local and national news from major mainstream sources every hour to get an update on the spread of the virus. I update my Facebook feed every hour with what I'm learning. And I know if I add a lot of exclamation points more people will read what I wrote so I will make sure every post starts with READ THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!
-I know the virus can move through the air, so I'll stay inside with the windows closed and the blinds down until the virus is included. Despite the fact that I have a private, enclosed garden, I will neither use nor look at it. You just never know …
It is easy to see how our negative mind can get out of control. The worldwide spread of the corona virus is extremely serious. Panic and overreactivity are not only counterproductive, they are also potentially dangerous.
Hoarding resources when others are urgently needed can cost lives. Government efforts to contain containment are dangerous and can cost lives. If freedom of movement has not been compromised in your region, you need to be more careful and responsible. Your bad judgment can cost lives.
The positive (or expansive) mind searches for pleasure, fulfillment, and ways in which you can use things in your experience. It is constructive, risky and active.
This mind could say:
– Self-isolation / on-site protection means that I can work from home. Other than that, I can still do my normal things. I will try to collect my running group for a run. Since most restaurants are closed, I invite my friends to my house for dinner. If I do it right, shelter-in-place can be a great tool for socializing!
-I feel 100 percent good. I definitely don't have the virus. And when I get the virus, I get the virus. I will risk it. I am healthy and young, so I will continue to do my business as usual. Vulnerable people should stay, but since I'm not in this category, I'll take a more relaxed stance.
-I don't know anyone personally who has the virus. I understand it's a problem, but I don't think I have it in my community or in my social groups. And it is also important to maintain our mental well-being. I will hold my events until someone I know gets sick.
The positive spirit can be dangerous around the corona virus. It is important to understand the big picture and understand how your positive mind can actually endanger other people during this time. We are in the middle of a severe global crisis in the fight against an infectious disease. It is everyone's job to educate themselves, accept the reality of the situation and take personal responsibility. Life is at stake.
The neutral (or meditative) mind is the mind that judges and evaluates without being tied to your own purpose and your own reality. The neutral mind observes the actions of both the negative and positive minds and judges both in relation to your higher self.
To keep the balance, we have to use this mind when making decisions. The neutral mind might suggest:
– I take self-isolation seriously and do not go out unless it is a mission-critical task. I keep my immune system healthy, keep a rhythm for my days and stay as productive as possible. This will also pass, but it could be months, not weeks.
-I examine the virus growth trends, but not obsessively. I want to stay up to date, but I understand that it is bad for my immune system to focus on bad news that I cannot control over a long period of time. Instead, I practice extreme self-care. I eat well. I make my environment pleasant and caring. I work and stay connected to people close to me through videos and calls. In fact, I even reconnected with some people I haven't spoken to in a while.
I keep an eye on my news sources when I read about the virus. I won't get sensational when I go to mainstream news sources to get an update on the corona virus. That would be wrong. I triangulate sources between the Disease Control and Prevention Center, the World Health Organization, and the health organization in my own county or country to keep up to date with the spread of the virus.
– When someone else invites me to something, I remind them that I am staying here because I understand the seriousness of the situation. I remind you:
The fact that they "feel good" is irrelevant. The virus can be transmitted asymptomatically (without symptoms).
The virus can live on surfaces for more than seventy-two hours.
The virus can go through the air for over three hours.
I understand that if I am not particularly careful, I could start the day without the virus and end it with the virus.
I don't shout or shout at my friends who want to get together, but I help them understand the situation more clearly. And most of all I stay in.
– I understand that the virus can get through the air, but I have done my research carefully and I understand that I can go outside alone and keep a reasonable distance from other people. I will try to use my own garden as often as possible, but if I take the right precautions I can go outside while minimizing my risk.
– I'm trying to find ways to be useful and useful at this time. Many people fight. I wonder if I can help them.
– I am realistic that this virus has started a new way of life. I focus on how I can be successful in this new environment. I'm looking for new ways to do business online and use this time to hone my skills. I don't focus on when we can go back to business as usual because I understand that business as usual no longer exists. I remain open and vigilant for opportunities that are approaching me because of this new world we are in.
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I write this because I observe a lot of chaotic thinking and everything that goes with it. There seems to be a global mix of the negative mind in overdrive and the positive mind in denial.
The corona virus also gives us a great opportunity to think more balanced. Scientists predict other situations like this in the coming decades, from extreme weather and natural disasters to widespread diseases and epidemics. If we want to survive and thrive in the new world we have created, we must learn to access our neutral mind, cultivate it, and train it.
Thank you for reading this. Stay safe.
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